Democratic incumbent Gov. Jon Corzine has cut Republican challenger Christopher Christie's lead
in half and now trails the former federal prosecutor 43 - 39 percent among New Jersey likely
voters, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Independent candidate
Christopher Daggett has 12 points, with 6 percent undecided.

This compares to a 47 - 37 percent Christie lead, with 9 percent for Daggett, in a
September 1 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University.

"Christopher Christie is still ahead in the Garden State, but when he looks in the rear-
view mirror, he sees the bearded visage of Gov. Jon Corzine getting closer," said Maurice Carroll,
director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"This race looks as if it will go down to the wire. Does Christopher Daggett's impressive
climb measure a swing to him or simply a distaste for the two guys hollering at each other? Will
Daggett fade on Election Day? At this stage, his numbers matter."

New Jersey voters split 38 - 38 percent in whether they have a favorable/unfavorable
opinion of Christie, his worst measure of favorability so far.

By a 56 - 34 percent margin, voters have a negative opinion of Corzine, little changed
from earlier surveys.

For Daggett, 84 percent still don't know enough about him to form an opinion.

In an open-ended question, where respondents can give any answer, 41 percent of New
Jersey likely voters list taxes as the most important campaign issue, followed by 17 percent who
list the economy or unemployment. Only 4 percent list political corruption, while another 4
percent cite honesty or morality.

Voters split 44 - 45 percent on whether Corzine is honest and trustworthy, better than
September 1 when voters said 51 - 40 percent that he is not honest and trustworthy.

Christie gets a 37 - 36 percent split on the honest and trustworthy question, down from
September 1 when voters said 44 - 31 percent he is honest and trustworthy.

If Corzine is elected, property taxes will go up, 61 percent of voters say, while 32 percent
say they will stay the same.

Property taxes would go up under Christie, 34 percent say, as 46 percent say they would
stay the same.

"The attack-attack-attack style of this rugged campaign is taking a toll on Christie, whose
favorability and honesty measures are dropping," Carroll said. "But the Republican is the big
winner when voters turn their attention to the biggest campaign issue - TAXES."

Property Tax Cap

New Jersey voters say 85 - 11 percent that there should be a cap on how much property
taxes can be raised. Support for the cap is over 80 percent in every group measured.

But voters oppose 54 - 39 percent raising the state income tax or sales tax in order to
provide property tax relief.

"New Jersey's property taxes are high and voters want to cap the increase, but they don't
want to raise other taxes to do it," Carroll said.

From September 22 - 28, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,188 New Jersey likely voters,
with a margin of error of +/- 2.8 percentage points.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio and
nationally as a public service and for research.
For more data or RSS feed: http://ww.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, or call (203) 582-5201.

1. If the election for governor were being held today, and the candidates were
Jon Corzine the Democrat, Christopher Christie the Republican, and Christopher
Daggett the independent, for whom would you vote? (If undecided q1) As of today,
do you lean more toward Corzine, Christie, or Daggett? This table includes
"Leaners".

TREND: If the election for governor were being held today, and the candidates
were Jon Corzine the Democrat, Christopher Christie the Republican, and
Christopher Daggett the independent, for whom would you vote? (If undecided) As
of today, do you lean more toward Corzine, Christie, or Daggett? This table
includes Leaners.

21. When you decide how to vote for governor, how important is it to you that
the candidate have a likeable personality - very important, somewhat important,
not too important, or not important at all?

TREND: When you decide how to vote for governor, how important is it to you that
the candidate has a likeable personality - very important, somewhat important,
not too important, or not important at all?